How much do Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median annual salary of $46,550 in the United States, which works out to roughly $22.38 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $36,110 at the entry level and $62,600 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $39,390 and $54,290 a year.
That is $14,840 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary range by percentile
Half of all Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn between $39,390 and $54,290 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,110 | $17.36 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $39,390 | $18.94 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,550 | $22.38 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $54,290 | $26.10 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,600 | $30.10 |
Highest-paying states for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Oregon leads the country for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay at $57,290 a year, followed by Minnesota ($51,780) and Massachusetts ($50,910). At the other end, New Mexico posts the lowest median at $38,020 — a gap of $19,270 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $57,290 | $27.54 | +23% |
| 2 | Minnesota | $51,780 | $24.89 | +11% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $50,910 | $24.48 | +9% |
| 4 | Vermont | $50,640 | $24.35 | +9% |
| 5 | West Virginia | $49,950 | $24.01 | +7% |
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 48 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 67,000 people work as Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $48,170 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in the United States?
How does Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay compare to other jobs?
Which state pays Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic the most?
What education do Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic need?
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